How practical is it to have multiple sets of wheels for the same bike?
05-11-22, 07:22 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
827 Posts
After mounting and unmounting smooth summer and studded winter tires on my older 16" MTB-based commuter, a couple of years ago I got a second wheelset. I tried for the same rim size and width and same number of gears...7.
The gears for the winter are very different ratios...lower with a bail-out granny gear (almost unnecessary with the 3x up front), but the shifting is fine with no adjustments.
The V-brakes have to be adjusted, but it is still easier than mounting and remounting tires, and it turns out the lower gearing helps with the general sluggishness of the studded winter tires and of course the snow. Being my heaviest bike, especially when commuting with a back pack on the back rack, the granny gear, while unnecessary is still nice for the steepest hills around here, especially in the snow with the extra weight and all.
The gears for the winter are very different ratios...lower with a bail-out granny gear (almost unnecessary with the 3x up front), but the shifting is fine with no adjustments.
The V-brakes have to be adjusted, but it is still easier than mounting and remounting tires, and it turns out the lower gearing helps with the general sluggishness of the studded winter tires and of course the snow. Being my heaviest bike, especially when commuting with a back pack on the back rack, the granny gear, while unnecessary is still nice for the steepest hills around here, especially in the snow with the extra weight and all.
